Bait Boats

Since we opened in 2013 we have allowed bait boats across Cherry Lakes. Throughout all of this time we have partnered with Angling Technics to offer bait boats for hire to our guests who want to take advantage of a boat during their holiday but who don't own one. The Angling Technics Technicat Bait Boat is easy to use both during the day and during the night and will easily reach the far bank (if that is where you want to fish).

Whilst not always necessary, we recognise that Bait Boats can enable anglers to fish in some places which they cannot easily cast to, as well as to concentrate your ground bait and other attractors around your hook bait.

Knowing the depth under the boat is a real advantage on many lakes, and in particular on Cherry Lake where there are many features, and on Cherry Springs, Cherry Pool and Cherry Mere where you are looking for certain depths and tight marginal shelves nearer the far banks.

Simply put Bait Boats can enable more anglers to have an even better holiday experience at Cherry Lakes.

We have during 2025 replaced all of the boats in our 'fleet' with the new AT Systematic Technicat Bait Boat. These new boats with their full functionality are a major upgrade on our previous boats.

These new Boats have enabled us to offer our guests a wider range of features which should hopefully increase our guest’s enjoyment as well as catch some more Carp!

We have developed a series of short videos to demonstrate how to use our Bait Boats and the different options available. There are also written simple instructions for you to use as well. We would encourage all of our guests who hire one of our Boats to please watch these videos, both before you arrive and if necessary whilst you are at Cherry Lakes.

The standard bait boat is very easy to use and enables anglers to send out their baited rig and drop some loose feed along with it. The basic boat functionality is limited but suits anglers who prefer to fish on a 'line of sight' basis often accompanied by a line marker.

All of our Bait Boats come with fully charged Lithium batteries. These batteries should last for the full duration of your visit, so there is no need to charge them. If you think they are short of power, we will replace them for you.

Our new boats can be fitted with the advanced 640 Toslon Echo and Fish finders and also have GPS.

The new Echo sounder and fish finder is a major upgrade on the graphic handsets previously offered.

The depth finder clearly shows the contours of the bottom. If you look carefully, you can also see if the bottom is firm and clean or a little messy. Great when choosing where to drop your rig.

It is also very good at showing up the Carp whenever they are underneath the bait boat. Whilst I normally don’t worry about whether I see a Carp under the boat or not. I will however admit to having my fishing spirits limited when I do, and especially in the winter.

Personally I would always choose to have at least this functionality on my boat whenever I go fishing. Without it I feel that I am fishing a 'little blind'.

The GPS feature is a major step forward for our boats. It enables the angler to mark and save 'spots' and features in their swims. Once marked, the angler is able to use the GPS finder to return to the same spot time after time. Using the GPS you can continue to feed attractive spots (Waypoints) even when you are not actually fishing them. A good way to build a ready back up if you want to rest your first choice spots.

This feature is relatively straight forward to use once the angler has tried it several times. We have some simple step by step instructions available for anglers like me to follow. Like all new technology it will become easier the more you use it, especially if you follow the instructions and/or videos.

Whilst bait boats have always been great at returning to preferred locations, they have traditionally been limited in terms of baiting approaches. They traditionally have simply dropped the loose feed etc directly underneath the boat. The only real variable being the amount of bait and feed put in the boats.

All our boats now have the additional option of a Bait Spreader. This clever device literally spreads the loose feed in a 360 degrees pattern around the boat. The diameter of the spread being determined by the speed of the spreader. Fast you can get a 3 meter plus speed, slow more like a 1-2 meter spread.

The Spreader is ideal for pellets and boilies and other dry feed. You control the speed and timing of the baiting by using a small separate hand held device. We have a limited number of these so please book in advance if you want one of these for your stay.

Bait Boat hire options and Pricing

If you want to hire the Bait Boat you should book in advance, agree to the conditions below, as well as completing and signing the Bait Boat hire agreement form on arrival.

Second angler charges apply. Please add £30 to the standard bait boat and £40 to the with Toslon boat charges above.

1. Bait Boat hire charges must be paid in full before use and a hire agreement form completed and signed.
2. Credit card details must be provided as a deposit with the following charges being made against the card: (a) In the event the Bait Boat is damaged by the angler, the cost of repair will be charged to the card. (b) The full cost of £1600 will be charged to the card if the Bait Boat is not returned on departure. (c) The replacement cost of any missing handsets, echo sounder or chargers not returned on departure will be charged in full.
3. All Bait Boats to be returned and checked by Cherry Lakes management prior to departure
4. The Bait Boat must be returned clean and in the same condition as you received it in. Charge for cleaning dirty boats is £25.
5. In the event that the Bait Boat breaks down through no fault of the angler, an alternative Boat will be provided. If no Boat is available then a pro-rata refund of days not used will be made. All faults to be immediately notified to Mike, Simon or Dave.